Cal Raleigh's Record-Breaking Night
In a historic display of power hitting, Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh continued his phenomenal 2025 season by launching his 55th and 56th home runs during Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This outstanding performance not only solidified his status as a key player in the league but also saw him tie the legendary Ken Griffey Jr.'s franchise record for the most home runs in a single season.
Breaking Records and Making a Mark
Griffey set the record of 56 home runs during back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998. Raleigh's remarkable achievement didn't stop there; with his first home run of the night, he surpassed Mickey Mantle's all-time single-season mark for long balls by a switch hitter, which was set at 54 during the 1961 season. Fittingly, Raleigh hit a home run from both sides of the plate, showcasing his impressive versatility.
Chasing More Records
Raleigh's pursuit of greatness doesn’t end with Griffey and Mantle. If he manages to hit six more homers in Seattle's final 11 games, he will tie Aaron Judge's American League record of 62 home runs, achieved in the 2022 season. This pursuit not only adds excitement to the final stretch of the season but also intensifies the ongoing American League MVP race, a contest currently between himself and Judge.
Leading the MVP Charge
As of now, Raleigh holds the league lead in home runs and RBIs (118), while Judge leads in runs scored, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, and wins above replacement (WAR). Both players are contributing significantly to their teams as they battle for postseason positions—Seattle currently holds a half-game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West, while the Yankees occupy the top wild-card spot.
This captivating rivalry could potentially culminate in an electrifying postseason showdown featuring two record-holding sluggers who are the backbone of their respective lineups.
